Posted in Thoughts on Jan 10th, 2007 1 Comment »
You know the song: California here we come, right back where we started from, du du du du…. I have memories of that being sung by someone in my family (though I can’t remember who; my pop?) when I was just a wee lass. I have no idea what it’s from, but it seems that [...]
Posted in Down syndrome, Family, Thoughts on Nov 24th, 2006 No Comments »
One of the very first things that Amy and I recognized following Ava’s birth was that we were now members of a new club. I don’t mean that in a trite kind of way. I mean that we realized that we would be forever and profoundly connected to a new group of people. Just after [...]
Posted in Thoughts on Nov 24th, 2006 No Comments »
This Thanksgiving season I have made a determined effort to slow down my life and take measure of all for which I’m grateful. While I’ve been somewhat successful in slowing my pace and quieting the buzz in my head over the last few days, I’ve had a difficult time nailing down a list. The problem [...]
Posted in Thoughts on Oct 4th, 2006 4 Comments »
Toads are strange creatures. I’ve heard that they are ferocious hunters; voraciously devouring their prey. Able to catch flies. But they seem fairly slow and predictable to me. I’m a bit surprised that they survive at all. I would assume that nearly every predator on the planet would have the ability to wipe them out. [...]
Posted in Thoughts on Sep 10th, 2006 1 Comment »
Let go of the past! Let go of the future! Let go of the present and cross over to the farther shore of existence. With your mind wholly liberated, you shall come no more to birth and death. – Buddha
Posted in Politics, Thoughts on Sep 7th, 2006 No Comments »
A few weeks ago I wrote to you about my adventures in travel while escaping the panic that was London after the terror scare. Consider this the postscript. I’m composing this on my BlackBerry from the back seat of a taxi in Toronto. This is the first time I’ve traveled since London. That return trip [...]
Posted in Down syndrome, Family, Thoughts on Sep 1st, 2006 3 Comments »
I was sitting at work writing promotional materials for the new MOWAM newsletter. In my job, I am advocating for the rights of the elderly, the homebound and the disabled—citizens who are often forgotten in our competitive, fast-paced, technologically driven society. While writing what I hope to be a compelling piece, I couldn’t help but [...]
Posted in Thoughts on Aug 31st, 2006 1 Comment »
I’m in the middle of the book Freakonomics. It’s really a fabulous read and kind of hard to explain. The authors, Steven D. Levitt (an economist) and Stephen J. Dubner (a reporter for the NY Times) pose very intriguing sociological questions, connections and comparisons, and then use economic equations to answer them. Some of the [...]
Posted in Down syndrome, Family, Thoughts on Aug 29th, 2006 No Comments »
This was written by Esti Levitansky Rokowsky at age 17 in honor of her special sibling. It resonates with me tremendously. – A feeble cry shatters the still air another child born Joy, happiness, ecstasy, laughter – crash! Suddenly our world comes tumbling down! Hushed whispers there, tears falling here What is wrong with our [...]
Posted in Thoughts on Aug 29th, 2006 No Comments »
Endurance is one of the most difficult disciplines, but it is to the one who endures that the final victory comes. – Buddha